JAX AIR NEWS, NASJACKSONVILLE, Thursday, March 13, 2008 7 AM1 Andrew Marlatt, an instructor at The Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Jacksonville (CNATTU Jax) (left), goes over hydraulic systems on a SH-60 Sea Hawk system trainer. The trainer is used to test students trouble shooting skills, comprehension and location through problem elimination. S.AS1 Mathew Franklin AMAR Frederick Ramos performs fundamental layout tech- performs maintenance niques in his metal fabrication lab. Ramos is an "A" school on an Electrical Dummy Load student at The Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training DA-675/MSM,mobile electric Unit at NAS Jacksonville. power cart, between classes. Franklin is an aviation ground support equipment instructor at The Center -for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Jacksonville. CNlTTl: More than 5,000 graduates per year From Page 6Phtsk multitude of other systems required to keep the fleet's air- MCI(AW) craft flying.oiete Jkon The MTU is divided into four phases based on the rates loete J.Ikson of the instructors; aviation electronics technicians (ATs) and aviation electrician's mates (AEs) are in Avionics, Power Plants (AD), Airframes (AM & AME) and Aviation Ordnancemen (AO) phases. ATAN Christopher Greble ASAN Tiffany Jaques one of the SH-60 AM "0" level and ATAA Cassandra Spelling troubleshoot for electrical * students who graduated Tuesday and is nervously excited troubleshoot for electrical continuity on a system trainer for about leaving the states and reporting to her new com- SH-60F avionics systems under mand in Japan. "I learned so much from this course the guidance of their instructor because of all the hands on training and the patience of AT1 Ronald Shouse (center). the instructors. I'm a visual person so a book could not have given me the same experience," said Jaques With the Navy continuously changing requirements, junior Sailors are now getting the opportunity to partici- pate in programs not once offered to them because of their rank. One such program is the flight engineer (FE) course offered at CNATTU Jax. They had to revamp their whole course because it was previously only offered to fleet E-5 and E-6 Sailors. Now Sailors straight out of "A' school can ..... attend and attain a lot of responsibilities. "There is no other place in the Navy that a young E-3 or E-4 has the level of responsibility that is put upon them as a flight engineer. They are the senior crew member on a P-3 interacting with officers and pilots seven days a week," said AEC Ronald Darr, leading chief petty officer for the Flight Engineer Course. "Without actually being a pilot, a FE is about as close as you can get because they are in the flight station with the pilot, starting the engine, setting the power and making decisions on a daily basis regarding the safety their aircraft and aircrew." The FE is unique because there are several different rates compiled together for these jobs: AEs, ATs, mechan- ics and airframers learning every system about the air- " craft and they are considered the system expert. Flight engineer student AM2 Alexander Penn is a fleet Sailor who finds his course very rewarding. "It's chal- lenging, takes a lot of personal dedication, off duty time to study and effort. Our instructors are very knowledgeable " and they know their stuff. We are trained to be experts by experts," he said. U.S. Marine Sgt. Robert Flores Jr. is an aviation grounds support equipment instructor and is having a great time. "It helps my piece of mind knowing that I'm 'A sending out Sailors and Marines who are more knowledge- "- able about the equipment that I am teaching and they are more prepared to do whatever they are tasked with. This , class teaches them a more in depth hands on training than "A' school. They get to understand what makes the gear ,u work and get a good feeling on what to expect in the fleet," said Flores. CNATTU Jacksonville graduates more than 5,000 stu- dents annually representing 81 naval enlisted classifica- AT2 Donte Bradby (seated) troubleshoots for electrical continuity on a system trainer for SH-60F avionics systems under the tion codes. guidance of his instructor, AT1 Ronald Shouse.